Ibrahima Konate injury latest as Liverpool handed fresh update after training decision
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.
The 26-year-old linked up with Didier Deschamps' squad following the Reds' loss at Stamford Bridge, but was excused from Les Bleus' latest session.Le Parisen reports that both the centre-back - who injured his quad against Chelsea - and France captain Kylian Mbappe, who is carrying an ankle injury, were spotted signing autographs in basketball shoes before leaving the court and returning to the gym for treatment.France host Azerbaijan on Friday before travelling to Iceland on Monday 13 October, with it currently unclear what role Konate and Mbappe will be able to play in either World Cup qualifier.READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister problem identified as Liverpool changes have 'fried his head'READ MORE: Ibrahima Konate agreement reached as Liverpool sent clear warning - 'He'll get it now'However, an update on both Konate and Mbappe's fitness is reportedly expected 'in the coming hours', according to Le Parisien, to determine the rest of their international schedule after sitting out training.Deschamps had previously played down the severity of both issues as he insisted the pair would not have reported for international duty if they were not going to be fit enough to play a part."There are still injuries. I don't have any additional information," he said earlier this week."We'll have an update when the players arrive."Kylian is here.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have come"The observation is that for the vast majority, they arrive tired. They arrive from one week to three matches."I will have to spread out the playing time more than in September.
They are all fit to play."Konate was forced off after 56 minutes of Liverpool's 2-1 loss to Chelsea on Saturday, with head coach Arne Slot later confirming his withdrawal was because of injury."I don't know if it's a big injury, but I do know that he limped," the Dutchman said. "And I asked him, and he said; 'I feel my quad a little bit'."But for me all alarm bells go off because in another sprint then you never know if that is going to go good, so it was already a substitution I had in mind for maybe a little bit later, because the right centre-back has a lot of ball possession, and we all know that Ryan (Gravenberch) is good in there."So it might be okay and he went off early enough, but it was clear that I had to take him off because he was limping."Liverpool will return to action after the international break at home to Manchester United on Sunday 19 October.